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Water Quality in
Sportfish ponds
W
ater quality measurements tell the pond
owner what is happening chemically in
the pond. Any thing that affects water
quality including pollution, wind, weather and rain
runoff can affect fish health. Understanding the
basics of water quality can help pond managers
predict and prevent situations that reduce pond
productivity or kill fish and other organisms.
Temperature
Temperature is the easiest water quality measurement
to perform. A thermometer is all that is needed,
although more sophisticated devices are needed to
measure temperature at various depths in rivers and
lakes. A common instrument used to measure water
temperature at various depths of a body of water is
a temperature probe. A sensor is attached to the end
of a long cable, often wound on reel for convenient
storage. The cable and sensor are lowered into the
water and the temperature at any specific depth is
read from a meter connected to the cable and sensor.
Analyzing water with a water quality test kit.
Temperature Tolerances water species can tolerate temperatures below 320
Fish are exothermic, their body temperature is about F.; while desert killifish can live in pools in Death
that of the surrounding environment; and affects all Valley at temperatures in excess of 1100 F. Native
metabolic processes. Cold water slows metabolism warm-water fish have a temperature tolerance range
and warm water increases metabolic rate. Fish have of about 34- 1040 F. although many species will
adapted to a wide range of temperatures. Some cold become stressed near either of these extremes. There
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Water Quality in Sportfish Ponds
optimum temperature is about 75-850F. column in spring and fall. (Fig. 1.).
Below 550 F. activity and feeding slow. Above 950 F.
many warm-water fish begin to reach upper lethal During summer, strong heating from the sun and
warm air temperatures heat the surface of the body of
temperature tolerance limits. Tropical fish such as water. Heated water is less dense than colder bottom
the tilapia, can not tolerate cold water. They become water and remains near the surface. A thermocline
stressed when water reaches 600 F. and die at water gradually develops. This is a sharp line of
temperatures below 500 F. temperature change, usually 4-8 feet below the water
surface, although it may vary through out the year.
Trout and other coldwater fish will die when Warm water above the thermocline, the epilimnion,
water temperature exceeds 700 F. Their optimum does not mix with the cooler water, the hypolimnion,
temperature is about 55-650 F. and they are active below this level.
down to 400 F.
Many times, swimmers can feel the thermocline and
Fish must adjust to temperature changes gradually. often mistake the cold water underneath for a spring
A warm-water fish may survive in 1000 F. water if flowing into the lake from the bottom.
slowly acclimated to it, however, a sudden change
from a water temperature of 650 F. to 750 F. May Because the upper and lower layers of water do not
shock and kill the fish. mix, oxygen entering the surface water can not reach
lower levels.
Temperature and Dissolved Gases
Temperature is important because it, along with Below the thermocline oxygen levels may be near 0
barometric pressure, determine the amount of a mg/l.; and can not sustain fish or many other aquatic
particular gas that can be dissolved in water (Boyle’s organisms except for brief periods of time. Decaying
Law). The higher the water temperature the less gas plant life and dead organisms fall to the anoxic (no
can dissolve in a given volume of water. Also, as oxygen) depths of the hypolimnion and accumulate.
barometric pressure decreases, less gas can dissolve Organic matter requires oxygen to decompose or
in a given volume of water, although this effect is oxidize. Oxidation can not happen until oxygen from
usually negligible. the surface water mixes with water at lower depths.
The thermocline strengthens during the relatively
Oxygen is an important example. In winter when calm stable months of summer. However, with the
water temperature may be near 400 F., water can approach of autumn, weather begins to change.
hold 12.5 mg/l dissolved oxygen. In summer at a Cold fronts begin to affect local conditions. Cool air
water temperature of 800, the water can hold only 7.9 and cloudy days lower surface water temperatures
mg/l dissolved oxygen. This is the saturation level until they are near the temperature of bottom water.
at sea level, or the maximum amount of a gas that The thermocline weakens. Strong winds associated
can be dissolved in water under a given temperature with the passage of a cold front begin to circulate
and pressure. Under certain circumstances, water the lake water. Surface water breaks through the
may become super saturated with gases. This can weakened thermocline and mixes with bottom water.
occur where water is released from a dam or in the
photic zone (fraction of water column illuminated by
sunlight) on a sunny day.
Thermal Stratification
Most ponds and lakes in temperate North America
are dimictic. Temperatures in dimictic lakes follow
an annual cycle that results in stratification during
most of the year, punctuated by mixing of the water Fig. 1 Thermal stratification in typical North American
lakes and ponds.
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Water Quality in Sportfish Ponds
The entire lake can mix or “turn over” in a short and concentrations are relatively low compared to
time. Sometimes less than an hour is needed to mix atmospheric levels. Normal levels of dissolved
the lake or pond. oxygen in natural bodies of water range from about
3-12 mg/l depending on temperature and time of day.
As oxygen from the surface water reaches the bottom
of the lake, much of it can be used up in the chemical
process of oxidation as decaying organic matter, dead Table 1. Oxygen solubility (mg/l) in
plants and other organisms begin the decomposition fresh water at various temperatures.
process. Temperature Oxygen conc.
0 0
F C mg/l
Lake “turn over “can kill fish if oxygen removal
due to decomposition reaches lethal levels, usually 32 0 14.6
below 1-2 mg/l, for a sufficient period of time. This 41 5 12.8
is most likely to happen in polluted lakes or ponds 50 10 11.3
that receive large amounts of animal waste, leaves or
fertilizer. Fish kills due to fall turnover frequently 59 15 10.2
happen to small ponds that are heavily stocked with 68 20 9.2
food fish and are given fish feed on a regular basis. 77 25 8.4
86 30 7.6
During winter, cold air and winds cool the surface
water and increase its density. The water of greatest 95 35 7.1
density sinks to the bottom of the lake. Water has a
very important and interesting physical property. Its The total amount of a gas that can dissolve in a given
density increases as its temperature drops, until it amount of water at a given temperature and pressure
reaches a temperature of 39.20 F. (40 C.). Below this is called the saturation level. Table 1. shows the
temperature, density begins to decrease. saturation level for oxygen at various temperatures
at average sea level atmospheric pressure. Bodies
Water changes form to ice at 320 F. The ice is less of water are often under saturated with oxygen.
dense than the surrounding, unfrozen water and In special circumstances water may become
therefore floats to the surface. The coating of ice at supersaturated with oxygen. This can happen when
the water’s surface prevents wind mixing and reduces water is intensely agitated in the presence of air.
lake cooling. If this phenomenon did not occur, water Oxygen enters the water primarily in two ways.
would freeze on the bottom of the lake, killing many Wind and wave action agitate the surface of lakes
plants and aquatic organisms. Eventually, ice would and ponds; circulating water and incorporating
fill up the entire water column, killing all fish and oxygen from the atmosphere. Turbulence produced
other aquatic life. by flowing water also is a significant source of
atmospheric oxygen in streams and rivers.
During spring the water again begins to warm and
mix as the water column nears the same temperature. The major source of oxygen comes from the sun
The thermocline redevelops and strengthens as the driven, photosynthetic processes of phytoplankton,
season progresses into summer. the microscopic floating plants that often give water a
green tinge of color and to a lesser extent, the rooted
Oxygen aquatic plants.
Oxygen is used in respiration by most aquatic
organisms. Fish require at minimum, 0.25 -5 mg/l Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide and the
dissolved oxygen for survival. Most warmwater Photosynthetic Cycle
fish in ponds and streams can survive with lower Because most dissolved oxygen is produced by
dissolved oxygen levels than coldwater fish such as photosynthesis in plants, oxygen concentrations
trout. Oxygen is not easily extracted from the water
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Water Quality in Sportfish Ponds
vary diurnally (See fig. 2.). As the sun rises in the may be produced by photosynthesis than is used in
morning, phytoplankton begin to use up carbon respiration during a 24 hour period.
dioxide and produce oxygen as the by product of
photosynthesis. Oxygen levels in a body of water will be a little
lower each morning until cloud cover lifts. If clouds
Dissolved oxygen levels increase throughout the day, persist long enough, the oxygen level in the water
reaching a peak in mid-afternoon. The more sunlight may drop below the tolerance range of the fish
available, the more oxygen will be produced. long enough to cause suffocation and death. This
process, combined with water’s inability to hold
Respiration also occurs during the day. This as much dissolved oxygen at higher temperatures,
metabolic process uses oxygen and releases explains why most oxygen related fish kills occur
carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis usually produces when prolonged cloudy conditions persist during the
more oxygen during the day than is consumed in summer
respiration.
Decline of dissolved oxygen is intensified under
eutrophic conditions. In water polluted from
organic waste or fertilizers, soluble levels of nitrogen
and phosphorous are high. These elements are plant
fertilizers and they cause excessive growth of algae
and phytoplankton. These plants can form dense
mats that shade out sun and prevent photosynthesis
below a few feet of water. They often become dense
enough to cause a sudden “crash” or die off; leaving
little plant life to produce more oxygen.
Alkalinity and pH
The pH is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity.
Fig. 2. Daily oxygen and carbon dioxide cycles.
The pH scale ranges from 0 - 14. A pH of 7 is
neutral. Values below ph 7 are acidic while values
After sunset, photosynthetic activity stops, however, above pH 7 are basic. The desirable pH range for fish
respiration continues throughout the night, using up is between 6.5- 9. Long term exposure to pH values
oxygen produced during the day. Dissolved oxygen beyond these limits slows fish growth and reduces
levels decline throughout the night and reach their health. Alkalinity is a measure of the total negative
lowest level just before sun rise. ions available to neutralize hydrogen ions when an
acid is added to water. In practical terms it is usually
Carbon dioxide levels reach maximum values at this a measure of the amount of carbonate (CO32-) and
time, usually not higher than 20-30 mg/l. Dissolved bicarbonate (HCO3!) in the water.
oxygen levels and dissolved carbon dioxide levels
are conversely related to each other because of Carbonates are most often derived from the mineral
photosynthesis and respiration. carbonates, calcium carbonate and magnesium
carbonate that are found in rocks and soil of the
In a natural situation, this daily cycle can be watershed.
disrupted by overcast skies which reduce the rate
of photosynthesis. On cloudy days, less oxygen Alkalinity is expressed as milligrams per liter (mg/l)
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Water Quality in Sportfish Ponds
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Water Quality in Sportfish Ponds
are found in the Northeastern United States. of calcium and magnesium can coat water pipes and
hot water heaters causing blockage and damage to
Normal rainfall is slightly acidic due to carbonic plumbing. Hardness or softness of water is often
acid formation from water and carbon dioxide in the associated with the ability to produce soap suds. Soft
atmosphere. Acidity increases and pH values may be water is desirable because of its ability to generate
as low as 2 when sulfur compounds released into the a lather of suds. Many homes use water filters that
atmosphere from coal generated power plants react remove hardness from the water to protect pipes and
with rain water to form acid rain. improve performance of laundry and dish washing
detergents.
Acidic conditions develop quickly in low alkalinity
lakes when acid rains fall and accumulate in the Salinity
lake basin; because there is no carbonate buffering Salinity is a measure of the total salts dissolved in a
system to react and neutralize the acids present in given weight of water. In most fresh water, salinity
the rainfall. Fish growth is slowed when pH levels is of little importance. Test kits made for fresh water
are chronically below 6.5 - 5. Below pH 5 - 4, actually test for chlorinity which is the amount of
reproduction does not occur. Below pH 4 fish will halides or chloride ions in the water.
die.
Salinity is expressed in mg/l at low concentrations.
Hardness When measuring brackish water or sea water, salinity
Hardness is a measure of the total concentration of is usually expressed as parts per thousand (ppt or
alkaline earth minerals in the water and is related to 0/00).
alkalinity. These minerals are almost always calcium
carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Hardness Specific gravity is also a measure of salinity often
measures positively charged ions (cations). Calcium used. Specific gravity is the ratio between the weight
and magnesium are usually the only cations of of a given volume of sea water and the weight of an
importance in freshwater. Other cations such as iron, equal volume of distilled water. Specific gravity is
copper and zinc are usually in trace amounts except measured with a hydrometer. The specific gravity of
in unusual situations. sea water and sea water aquarium mixes is 1.025.
Soft water has less than 75 mg/l hardness while hard Ponds sited near abandon oil wells may have
water contains 150 mg/l or greater hardness. Aquatic measurable salinity levels. During periods of
organisms do best in water with hardness values prolonged rains the water table can rise and force salt
between 100 and 400 mg/l although they may survive water released by past drilling activity to the surface.
at hardness values above and below these levels. Salt water forced to the surface can flow overland
Hardness below 50 mg/l can affect maturation and and accumulate in down stream ponds. Salinity
development of fish eggs, resulting in poor or absent can reach levels lethal to fish and other aquatic
fish populations. Minerals that make up hardness are organisms.
also important for production of shells, exoskeletons,
bones and plant tissues.
Hardness and alkalinity usually occur in the same
proportions in water because the calcium and
magnesium ions are bonded with carbonate ions.
In some polluted situations, hardness may be high
and alkalinity very low because the usual calcium
and magnesium carbonate ions are absent. Iron and
iron sulfate may be responsible for all the hardness
measured.
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